St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-09-15
WANT TO MUZZLE REED.

Inc RepuDllcan bosses are as busy as
bees in clover patch trying to put a
muzzle on ex-Warden REED. When
they determined to make scape-goat
of REED and saddle on him all the sins
OF the party, they seemed to have for
gotten that he had tongue of his own
and knew how to wag it. The ex-warden
is giving the bosses a gentle reminder
of his talking qualities just now, and
that's why they are trying to muzzle
him. He has a remarkable memory in
addition to his loquacious powers, and
If he once makes up his mind to unload
all that he knows concerning the short
comings of the Republican bosses, he is
going to make things quite lively in po-
ltical circles. The statements that he
has already made created quite flutter
in the ranks, and there is general ap-
prehenSion among the bosses that a
good deal more is coming.
1t is rather funny to observe the atti-
tude OF the party organs in respect to
this matter. When eX-Warden REEDS
answer was filed the GLOBE was the
only newspaper to publish it. Its
publication was one of the many
fair scoops that the GLOBE is in the
habit of making on its contemporaries.
So yesterday morning the Minneapolis
Tribune came trotting along with a
brief synopsis of the document in an
obscure part of its columns without
line of comment on it. The Pioneer
Press doesn't publish REEDS answer at
all, but contents itself with an editorial
in which it endeayors to separate REED
from his attorney, evidently assuming
that REED is so much of an imbecile
that he is mere jumping jack in the
hands of Attorney MARSH. This is a
bad showing for the organs. When
newspaper becomes so bitterly partisan
as to refuse to furnish its readers
with news then the public can no
longer place confidence in the RELIABLE
ity of that paper.
The Pioneer Press takes the position
that it is not legitimate for REED to
strike back at STORDOCK. 1t is all right
for SToRDOCK to besmirch REEDS char
acter in the opinion of the P. P, but
the minute REED begins to tell of SToR-
DOCKS nastiness then the organs want
to muzzle him. 1t doesn't take Phila-
delphia lawyer to know that if man is
accused of crime it is perfectly COM
petent under the rules of evidence to
show that the prosecuting witness is a
criminal. EX-Warden REED has been
charged with certain acts of immortality.
Warden SToRDoCK is one of the prose-
hxyf &c,
for REED to show, if he can, that SToR-
DOCK is guilty of the same immortality.
The fact is that the whole state admin
iStratiOn stands in the light of a prose-
cutOr in this instance, and il is
perfectly legitimate for REED in
his own defense to show I'D
every member of the administration.
The exception taken by the Pioneer
Press to REEDS line of defense is over
ruled at the bar of public opinion, and
unless the bosses succeed in muzzling
the ex-warden there are likely to be some
racy developments before the examina-
ton is completed.
There is no reason why Mr.. REED
should hold up or shut up. He is under
no obligations to the bosses. They
haven't spared him, neither have they
been at all careful of his reputation.
In order to shield the state administra-
ton from charge of injustice in remov-
ing him to make room for SToRDoCK,
they find it necessary to blight his char
acter. There was no disposition to hold
up in applying the lash to his back
until he began to squeal. Now when
they find out that he knows more than
they thought he did, and that he is dis
posed to tell what he knows, they begin
to manifest disposition to play quits.
They are willing to drop it if
REED is. AS sort of an
excuse for letting REED down easy they
are willing to transfer the whole blame
and saddle it on REEDS lawyer. That
is the sort of compromise the bosses
are proposing.
But it so happens that the case has
reached point where neither REED nor
the bosses have right to dispose of it.
1t is case that the people of Minnesota
are interested in having prosecuted to a
final hearing. The case now stands on
the docket. in the name of The People
against The State Administration, and
the people are clamoring for Judgment.
The play has begun, and there is no sort
of political jugglery that can ring down
the curtain before it is concluded. The
investigation must go on, and all the
facts on both sides must be elected.
A CORN CARNIVAL.